This diary is intended as something of a rant. Because this saddens me and makes my blood boil every time I think about it.

But before I vent, here's a caveat: as I said in yesterday's diary, 9/11 tore me apart. So this is by no means intended as a put-down of the trauma 9/11 survivors went through or a complaint about the well-deserved sympathy and support they've gotten.

I've often imagined many have been wondering why I care so much and have been so passionate in my support of New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Region from afar, after having been to New Orleans but once, over 30 years ago. And how Hurricane Katrina and the federal flood have had such a tremendous, shattering impact on me though I witnessed them safe and dry far from the sea in central Illinois. And how not only could I be well-deservedly hard on BushCo, but even take Clinton and Obama to task for not paying enough attention to New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Region.

It's rare for me to have anything good to say about the mainstream media, and even rarer for me to watch a "reality show," because "reality television" isn't.

But after seeing it promo'ed Saturday night, I determined that a reality show that was going to air Sunday night was going to be "Must-See TV." Because I knew it would have socially-redeeming value. I have only kudos for the show, ABC, and all who contributed to it for because it was heartwarming and inspiring to see and left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Yesterday on a campaign stop replete with photo-ops in New Orleans, Sen. John McCain made an attempt to distance himself from the failings of the Bush Administration during Katrina and the federal flood by saying "Never again..." and spinning himself as someone who would have been more proactive than had Bush regarding this disaster.

But does McCain really represent a change from BushCo incompetence, if not outright genocide, in New Orleans? Would a McCain administration really aid New Orleans' recovery? Is McCain a friend of New Orleans, or a foe?

Where would be the best place to have a NOLA "tweetup" gathering?

Let's talk, this would be a fun thing to do.

When I'm not traveling, I usually do the morning carpool for my son and his friend who lives down the street. They're 8th graders at Brother Martin High School, a Catholic high school with a long tradition of educating young men in New Orleans. On the drive in, one of the interesting post-storm sights we see are school recruiting posters on the neutral grounds of city streets. The posters are trying to draw drivers' attention to new charter schools opening in the city.

This is Part 2 of an Earth Day-themed series on environmental issues in the Gulf Region after Katrina and the federal flood.
In the first part of this Earth Day series, the environmental devastation experienced by New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Region was discussed. This installment will focus on Louisiana's wetlands which are being washed away and the sinking of New Orleans and the rest of southern Louisiana.

This is the first part of a 2-part Earth Day-themed series on environmental issues in the Gulf Region.

Not only were Katrina, the federal flood, and Rita massive human tragedies, they were for reasons which will be detailed below easily this nation's biggest environmental calamity.

And their potential impacts on human health and life in New Orleans and in the rest of the affected area are still being assessed over 2 1/2-years later.

I've been looking for a new CMS for my work site. Test driving Drupal, Joomla!, Typo3, etc. We don't need the community-serving features that Drupal provides; it's 4 years worth of static pages and an events calendar that I'm looking to convert to dynamic management. I'm leaning towards Joomla! for this.

Drupal, for a concept like YatBazaar, seems a perfect fit.

This is just a test drive. So what to talk about? Well, Confederacy of Dunces, of course! Thoroughly enjoying me re-reading of this great NOLA work. Ran across my new word, "fecund" yet again. I now OWN that word!

Here's wishing this new site is fecund!

Thanks, YP!!

-Nola